Every way to get from Boston to Martha's Vineyard in 2026. SSA ferry, Island Queen, Hy-Line, Cape Air flights, bus, and train with verified fares.
There is no direct ferry from Boston to Martha's Vineyard. Every route requires a connection. But once you understand your options, the 75-mile journey to Martha's Vineyard becomes straightforward. Five ways to get there: drive to a ferry, bus to a ferry, train to a ferry, fly direct, or combine them. Here's every option with 2026 pricing.
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The Steamship is the workhorse: year-round, the only line that carries cars, and the cheapest way across from Woods Hole.
The only car ferry. Year-round, 365 days. 45 min to Vineyard Haven. 20+ daily departures in summer (also to Oak Bluffs in summer, through Sep 10).
Walk-on: $11 one-way (no reservation needed). Car: $127 Mon–Thu / $168 Fri–Sun (peak, reservation required; opened Feb 3, 2026, sells out fast). No parking at the terminal. Use SSA lots in Falmouth at $25/day with free shuttle. Arrive 1 hour early in summer.
The Island Queen runs passengers from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs in season: cheap, quick, and it lands you right in town.
35 minutes, $20 one-way / $30 round-trip. 75 Falmouth Heights Rd. The 2026 season opened May 22. Passengers only. Online reservations (new for 2026), and every passenger needs a ticket, including kids 4 and under (theirs is free, but book it). Youth 5–12 pay $14 one-way / $18 round-trip, active military $15 / $20, bikes $4 / $8, and kayaks or paddleboards up to 12 feet $6 / $12. Parking $20/day cash only. Best value for day trips.
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Hy-Line’s high-speed boat runs Hyannis to Oak Bluffs, the pick if you are coming down the Cape’s other arm.
1 hour, $41 one-way / $78 round-trip (incl. fuel surcharge). 220 Ocean St, Hyannis. High-speed catamaran May–Oct. Reservations strongly recommended; can sell out even mid-September. Parking $30/day peak on-site (less off-site and off-season).
The Seastreak from New Bedford skips the Cape bridges entirely. The smart route on a summer Friday when the roads are a parking lot.
50 min, $49 one-way / $84 round-trip. Same-day RT $55. April 16–Oct 12. New Bedford is 55 miles from Boston via Route 24 and avoids Bourne/Sagamore bridges entirely. MBTA commuter rail now runs Boston → New Bedford (~1h40m). Valet parking $30/day.
Logan Terminal C → MVY in 40 minutes. 13+ daily flights in summer. $159–250+ one-way. 9-passenger Cessna and Tecnam aircraft. No bikes/surfboards. Fog at MVY is the main driver of delays.
Logan → MVY, late June–October. Up to 6 daily flights peak summer. Has dropped as low as ~$84 one-way in September; fares are dynamic. Airbus A220-300 jets.
Bedford/Hanscom → MVY, ~30 min. Semi-private Pilatus PC-12. June 18–Sep 8, 2026.
No car? The bus from Boston connects to the ferry: ride to Woods Hole, then simply walk aboard.
Peter Pan Bus: South Station AND Logan Airport → directly to SSA Woods Hole pier. $24–40 one-way depending on date and how far ahead you book, ~1.5–2 hours. Also serves Hyannis. Year-round. Plymouth and Brockton: Similar service, ~$30 to Woods Hole. No combo bus+ferry tickets exist, so buy separately.
South Station → Hyannis, $22 one-way / $40 RT. Fri–Sun, Memorial Day–Labor Day, ~2.5 hours. Kids 11 and under free. Bikes free. Café car with beer/wine. Free SSA shuttle from Bourne station (Sat/Sun). Super Summer Sunday: $20 same-day round trip, July through September.
Boston → Woods Hole: 75–80 miles, 75–90 min without traffic, 3–4+ hours on summer Fridays.
Traffic tips: Bourne/Sagamore bridges are chokepoints. Worst: Friday noon–8 PM. Leave before noon or after 9 PM. 2026 alert: Bourne Bridge restricted to 1 lane each direction April 27–May 20 for repairs.
Best advice: leave car on mainland. Park at SSA Falmouth lots ($25/day), walk on ferry. VTA buses are free on-island, bike rentals at every terminal.
Peter Pan from South Station → SSA Woods Hole → walk on ferry. 3.5–4 hours total. Year-round.
Logan Terminal C → MVY. On-island in under 2 hours door-to-door. Best for summer Fridays when Cape traffic adds hours.
MBTA commuter rail to New Bedford + Seastreak ferry. ~$60–70 one-way. Zero Cape Cod bridge traffic.
Fastest: Cape Air from same terminal (40 min). Budget: Peter Pan bus departs directly from Logan to Woods Hole (no South Station transfer needed). Silver Line SL1 (free) to South Station for more options. Uber to Woods Hole: ~$130–135 (surge can hit $200+).
Bikes: SSA $5.25, Island Queen $4 (cheapest), Hy-Line $8.50. Cape Air: no bikes. Pets: Free on all ferries (leashed). Accessibility: SSA has elevators, accessible restrooms, shuttle lifts. All VTA buses have ramp boarding.
SSA walk-on $11 | Island Queen $20 | Hy-Line $41 | Seastreak $49 | Cape Air $159+ | JetBlue $84+ | Peter Pan bus $24–40 | CapeFLYER train $22
For all ferry details: Complete Ferry Guide. For day trips: Day Trip from Boston and NYC. For on-island transport: Car-Free Guide and VTA Schedule. Traveling after Labor Day? The seasonal boats quit in stages: Pied Piper and Seastreak NYC at Labor Day weekend, Island Queen and Seastreak New Bedford on October 12. Details in what changes after Labor Day.
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